Harrow Council has approved plans to work with Wates Residential to regenerate three underused urban sites in the Wealdstone area over the next 10 years
At the heart of this vision are more than 1,500 new homes for local people, with 40% of these offered for rent at below market rate or as shared ownership properties.
Harrow’s residents can look forward to new homes, new communities, new business opportunities and new jobs.
The three sites, which are all owned by the council, have potential to support new neighbourhoods, commercial premises and community facilities. Together they represent one of the largest brownfield developments in west London.
The commercial partnership with Wates Residential will deliver all this at no cost to the taxpayer.
‘A new and exciting future’
Councillor Graham Henson, leader of Harrow Council, said: “This decision opens up Harrow to a new and exciting future.
“Our work with Wates will benefit countless local people and improve the lives of generations to come. As we begin to emerge from the devastating pandemic, I want this to signal the start of our renewal.
“Wates Residential has a wealth of experience delivering high-quality development projects. With their expertise we will unlock the potential of these sites, creating new communities and new opportunities for local people.
“I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to Wates and look forward to the amazing things I know our partnership can achieve.
“Harrow is crying out for high-quality affordable housing. Too many people are trapped in unsuitable, overcrowded accommodation. They deserve places to live that will support their success and allow their families to flourish.
“We are committed to doing all that we can to meet Harrow’s future needs within our existing developed environment. That means using sites like these much more efficiently.
“By making this commitment, we can protect our precious greenbelt and ensure that the development proposals we bring forward are appropriate, sustainable and backed by investment in infrastructure.”
Helen Bunch, executive managing director of Wates Residential, added: “We at Wates Residential are really excited to be a part of this amazing regeneration scheme that is going to transform the face of Harrow.
“This £690m regeneration programme will deliver 1,500 quality affordable homes, a new civic centre, commercial space as well as green public spaces for the people of Harrow to enjoy.
“The regeneration goes beyond the building infrastructure, and as part of the partnership with Harrow, we are committed to supporting the local community by providing apprenticeships, new jobs, spend in the local community and early careers support for the local schools and colleges.
“This is the Wates way, because everybody deserves a great place to live and we look to leave a lasting legacy around the communities we create.”
The three core sites on which the new Harrow Strategic Development Partnership will focus are Poets Corner, currently the site of the Council’s Civic Centre; Peel Road, off Wealdstone High Street and Byron Quarter, next to Byron Park and including the site of an old driving test centre.
Local residents will be consulted extensively on the proposals for each site. The first to progress will be Phase 1 of Byron Quarter, with initial plans for the old driving test centre site likely to come forward later this year.
